Trip to Caymans possible?

[XenoMorph2049]

I might be buying a boat here soon and was wondering what would work and still be affordable. Im looking at a powered boat because Ive no clue as to the workings of a sailboat. What size minimum should the boat be? How many gallons of fuel should it hold? How far form the keys to the Caymans? Im probably WAY outta my league here, but thought i might ask around.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Tiny problem in the way... Cuba. As the crow flies, it's about 450 miles to Miami.

If sailing or motoring down, you're probably best to leave direct from Miami and skirt the eastern end of Cuba. Island hop through the Bahamas around to Haiti, Jamaica, and finally Cayman.

We get realtively few visitors dropping in via private boat. Cayman is just too far away from anywhere else people usually go via boat. If only we could get the cruise ships to adopt the same idea.

 

[XenoMorph2049]

Yeah, I was thinking along the line of island hoping. What size/type of boat would you recomend? The idea ios appealing to my wife and I, but we both seem to think the idea is a little far fetched, considering we think a boat capable of the trip would be well out of our price range. Thanks for the input.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

I've never made that trip by boat, but I've done lots of sailing around the Eastern Caribbean, For a similar trip, I would comfortably solo it on a 35ft sailboat, but I would highly recommend 45+ for those who aren't as gung-ho. (I used to teach sailing).

Unless you are very experienced, long blue water runs are not recommended. Island hopping is the only way to go to make it somewhat manageable. It's probably significantly shorter to depart the Keys and skirt the west coast of Cuba but no islands enroute unless you are willing to make landfall in Cuba proper.

Fuel gets very expensive for such a long trip. Sailboats have a distinct advantage in the windy Caribbean.

 

[XenoMorph2049]

Hehe.......I can see the headlines now........"Local screw-head attempts deep water trip in dinghy".............One of the main reasons for this trip is the possibility of employment, and I would like a boat. Are they expensive there? Every thing else seems to be .....................maybe I'll try for Venisuala!